Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2017 > April 2017 Decisions > G.R. No. 227158, April 18, 2017 - JOSEPH C. DIMAPILIS, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent.:




G.R. No. 227158, April 18, 2017 - JOSEPH C. DIMAPILIS, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent.

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

G.R. No. 227158, April 18, 2017

JOSEPH C. DIMAPILIS, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent.

D E C I S I O N

PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:

Before the Court is a petition for certiorari1 with urgent prayer for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and/or a Status Quo Ante Order and/or a Writ of Preliminary Injunction, assailing the Resolutions dated April 11, 20162 and August 31, 20163 of respondent Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in SPA No. 13-436 (BRGY) (MP), which cancelled the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) filed by petitioner Joseph C. Dimapilis (petitioner) for the position of Punong Barangay of Barangay Pulung Maragul, Angeles City (Brgy. Pulung Maragul) for the October 28, 2013 Barangay Elections (2013 Barangay Elections), annulled his proclamation as the winner, and directed the Barangay Board of Canvassers to reconvene and proclaim the qualified candidate who obtained the highest number of votes as the duly-elected official for the said post.

The Facts


Petitioner was elected as Punong Barangay of Brgy. Pulung Maragul in the October 2010 Barangay Elections. He ran for re-election for the same position in the 2013 Barangay Elections, and filed his CoC4 on October 11, 2013, declaring under oath that he is "eligible for the office [he seeks] to be elected to." Ultimately, he won in the said elections and was proclaimed as the duly elected Punong Barangay of Brgy. Pulung Maragul on October 29, 2013.5

On even date, the COMELEC Law Department filed a Petition for Disqualification6 against petitioner pursuant to Section 40 (b)7 of Republic Act No. 7160,8 otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991" (LGC). It claimed that petitioner was barred from running in an election9 since he was suffering from the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office as a consequence of his dismissal from service10 as then Kagawad of Brgy. Pulung Maragul, after being found� guilty, along with others, of the administrative offense of Grave Misconduct, in a Consolidated Decision11 dated June 23, 2009 (OMB Consolidated Decision) and an Order12 dated November 10, 2009 (collectively, OMB rulings) rendered by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) in OMB-L-A-08-0401-G, and allied cases.13

On December 17, 2013, the COMELEC Second Division issued an Order14 directing petitioner to file his answer.

In his Verified Answer cum Memorandum15 dated February 24, 2014, petitioner averred that the petition should be dismissed, considering that: (a) while the petition prayed for his disqualification, it partakes the nature of a petition to deny due course to or cancel CoC under Section 7816 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines (OEC),17 and combining these two distinct and separate actions in one petition is a ground for the dismissal of the petition18 pursuant to the COMELEC Rules of Procedure19 (COMELEC Rules); (b) the COMELEC Law Department is not a proper party to a petition for disqualification, and cannot initiate such case motu proprio; 20� and (c) the Regional Trial Court of Angeles City, Branch 58 (RTC of Angeles City) had permanently enjoined the implementation of the aforesaid OMB Consolidated Decision in a November 8, 2013 Resolution21 in Civil Case No. 15325, grounded on the condonation doctrine.22

The COMELEC Law Department countered petitioner's averments, maintaining that it has the authority to file motu proprio cases, and reiterating its earlier arguments.23

On the other hand, the OMB submitted its Comment24 on April 8, 2014, averring that the OMB rulings had attained finality as early as May 28, 2010 for failure of petitioner to timely appeal to the Court of Appeals (CA), rendering him disqualified from running for any elective position.25

The COMELEC Second Division Ruling


In a Resolution26 dated April 11, 2016, the COMELEC Second Division granted the petition, and cancelled petitioner's CoC, annulled his proclamation as the winner, and directed the Barangay Board of Canvassers to reconvene and proclaim the qualified candidate who garnered the highest number of votes as the duly-elected Punong Barangay of Brgy. Pulung Maragul.27

It treated the petition as one for cancellation of CoC pursuant to Section 78 of the OEC, notwithstanding that it was captioned as a "Petition for Disqualification" under Section 40 (b) of the LGC, holding that the nature of the petition is not determined by the caption given to it by the parties, but is based on the allegations it presented.28 It ruled that petitioner committed material misrepresentation in solemnly avowing that he was eligible to run for the office he seeks to be elected to, when he was actually suffering from perpetual disqualification to hold public office by virtue of a final judgment dismissing him from service.29

The COMELEC Second Division likewise upheld its Law Department's authority to initiate motu proprio the Petition for Disqualifcation as being subsumed under the COMELEC's Constitutional mandate to enforce and administer laws relating to the conduct of elections.30

Finally, it rejected petitioner's invocation of the condonation doctrine as jurisprudentially established in Aguinaldo v. Santos31 since the same had already been abandoned in the 2015 case of Carpio Morales v. Binay, Jr. (Carpio Morales).32 It ruled that the doctrine cannot apply to petitioner, who was clearly established to be suffering from perpetual disqualification to hold public office, which rendered him ineligible, voided his CoC from the beginning, and barred his re-election.33 Consequently, it declared petitioner to be not a candidate at all in the 2013 Barangay Elections; hence, the votes cast in his favor should not be counted.34

Petitioner moved for reconsideration,35 maintaining that: (a) the petition should have been outrightly dismissed as the same is a combination of a disqualification case and a petition to deny due course to or cancel CoC, which is proscribed by the COMELEC Rules;36(b) he was not dismissed or removed from service since the CA had permanently enjoined the execution of the OMB Consolidated Decision in a December 17, 2009 Decision37 in CA-G.R. SP No. 109986, which was affirmed by this Court in its Resolution38 dated August 2, 2010 in G.R. No. 192325;39(c) the RTC of Angeles City, Branch 60 had already dismissed the criminal case against him that was anchored on the same basis as the administrative cases before the OMB, in a November 20, 2015 Order40 in Criminal Case No. 09-5047;41 and (d) petitioner's re-election as Punong Barangay of Brgy. Pulung Maragul in the 2013 Barangay Elections operated as a condonation of his alleged misconduct.42

The COMELEC En Banc Ruling


In a Resolution43 dated August 31, 2016, the COMELEC En Banc denied petitioner's motion for reconsideration and affirmed the ruling of its Second Division. It explained that petitioner's reliance on the aforesaid CA Decision and RTC Order was misplaced, observing that: (a) the evident intent of the CA Decision was only to enjoin the implementation of the OMB Consolidated Decision, while petitioner's motion for reconsideration was pending, and not thereafter;44 and (b) absolution from a criminal charge is not a bar to an administrative prosecution and vice versa.45

Hence, this petition.

The Issues Before the Court


The essential issue for the Court's resolution is whether or not the COMELEC gravely abused its discretion in cancelling petitioner's CoC.

The Court's Ruling


The petition is without merit.

I.
Petitioner's perpetual disqualification to hold public office is a material fact involving eligibility.


A CoC is a formal requirement for eligibility to public office.46 Section 74 of the OEC provides that the CoC of the person filing it shall state, among others, that he is eligible for the office he seeks to run, and that the facts stated therein are true to the best of his knowledge. To be "eligible" relates to the capacity of holding, as well as that of being elected to an office.47 Conversely, "ineligibility" has been defined as a "disqualification or legal incapacity to be elected to an office or appointed to a particular position."48 In this relation, a person intending to run for public office must not only possess the required qualifications for the position for which be or she intends to run, but must also possess none of the grounds for disqualification under the law.49

In this case, petitioner had been found guilty of Grave Misconduct by a final judgment, and punished with dismissal from service with all its accessory penalties, including perpetual disqualification from holding public office.50 Verily, perpetual disqualification to bold public office is a material fact involving eligibility51 which rendered petitioner's CoC void from the start since he was not eligible to run for any public office at the time he filed the same.

II.
The COMELEC has the duty to motu proprio bar from running for public office those suffering from perpetual disqualification to hold public office.


Under Section 2 (1), Article IX (C) of the 1987 Constitution, the COMELEC has the duty to "[e]nforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election x x x." The Court had previously ruled that the COMELEC has the legal duty to cancel the CoC of anyone suffering from the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office, albeit, arising from a criminal conviction.52 Considering, however, that Section 52 (a), Rule 10 of the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service similarly imposes the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office as an accessory to the penalty of dismissal from service, the Court sees no reason why the ratiocination enunciated in such earlier criminal case should not apply here, viz.:

Even without a petition under either x x x Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code, or under Section 40 of the Local Government Code, the COMELEC is under a legal duty to cancel the certificate of candidacy of anyone suffering from the accessory penalty of perpetual special disqualification to run for public office by virtue of a final judgment of conviction. The final judgment of conviction is notice to the COMELEC of the disqualification of the convict from running for public office. The law itself bars the convict from running for public office, and the disqualification is part of the final judgment of conviction. The final judgment of the court is addressed not only to the Executive branch, but also to other government agencies tasked to implement the final judgment under the law.

Whether or not the COMELEC is expressly mentioned in the judgment to implement the disqualification, it is assumed that the portion of the final judgment on disqualification to run for elective public office is addressed to the COMELEC because under the Constitution the COMELEC is duty bound to "[e]nforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election." The disqualification of a convict to run for public office under the Revised Penal Code, as affirmed by final judgment of a competent court, is part of the enforcement and administration of "all laws" relating to the conduct of elections.

To allow the COMELEC to wait for a person to file a petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy of one suffering from perpetual special disqualification will result in the anomaly that these cases so grotesquely exemplify. Despite a prior perpetual special disqualification, Jalosjos was elected and served twice as mayor. The COMELEC will be grossly remiss in its constitutional duty to "enforce and administer all laws" relating to the conduct of elections if it does not motu proprio bar from running for public office those suffering from perpetual special disqualification by virtue of a final judgment.53 (Emphases and underscoring supplied)


In Romeo G. Jalosjos v. COMELEC54(Jalosjos), the Court had illumined that while the denial of due course to and/or cancellation of one's CoC generally necessitates the exercise of the COMELEC's quasi-judicial functions commenced through a petition based on either Sections 12 or 78 of the OEC, or Section 40 of the LGC, when the grounds therefor are rendered conclusive on account of final and executorv judgments, as in this case, such exercise falls within the COMELEC's administrative functions.55 To note, the choice as to which action to commence belongs to the petitioner:

What is indisputably clear is that the false material representation of Jalosjos is a ground for a petition under Section 78. However, since the false material representation arises from a crime penalized by prisi�n mayor, a petition under Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code or Section 40 of the Local Government Code can also be properly filed. The petitioner has a choice whether to anchor his petition on Section 12 or Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code, or on Section 40 of the Local Government Code. The law expressly provides multiple remedies and the choice of which remedy to adopt belongs to the petitioner.56


As petitioner's disqualification to run for public office pursuant to the final and executory OMB rulings dismissing him from service now stands beyond dispute, it is incumbent upon the COMELEC to cancel petitioner's CoC as a matter of course, else it be remiss in fulfilling its Constitutional duty to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election.

Accordingly, the Court finds no merit to petitioner's claim57 of denial of due process because even though the special circumstance extant herein calls for the outright cancellation of his CoC in the exercise of the COMELEC's administrative function, it even allowed him to submit his Verified Answer cum Memorandum to explain his side, and to file a motion for reconsideration from its resolution.

III.
Petitioner's re-election as Punong Barangav of Brgy. Pulung Maragul in the 2013 Barangay Elections cannot operate as a condonation of his alleged misconduct.


In Carpio Morales, the Court abandoned the "condonation doctrine," explaining that "[e]lection is not a mode of condoning an administrative offense, and there is simply no constitutional or statutory basis in our jurisdiction to support the notion that an official elected for a different term is fully absolved of any administrative liability arising from an offense done during a prior term.58

Although Carpio Morales clarified that such abandonment should be prospectively applied59 (thus, treating the condonation doctrine as "good law" when the COMELEC's petition was commenced on October 29, 2013, and when petitioner filed his Verified Answer cum Memorandum invoking the same), the parameters for the operation of such doctrine simply do not obtain in petitioner's favor.

Prior to Carpio Morales, the Court, in the 1996 case of Reyes v. COMELEC60 (Reyes), had illumined that the rationale in the Aguinaldo cases61 was hinged on the expiration of the term of office during which the misconduct was committed before a decision could be rendered in the administrative case seeking the candidate's removal. As such, his or her re-election bars removal for said misconduct since removal cannot extend beyond the term when the misconduct was committed.62Reyes likewise noted that the Aguinaldo cases involved a misconduct committed prior to the enactment of the LGC, and there was no existing provision similar to Section 40 (b), disqualifying a person from running for any elective local position as a consequence of his removal from office as a result of an administrative case.63 Thus, it rejected petitioner's invocation of the condonation doctrine, holding that:

Second. The next question is whether the reelection of petitioner rendered the administrative charges against him moot and academic. Petitioner invokes the ruling in Aguinaldo v. COMELEC [(see supra note 31)], in which it was held that a public official could not be removed for misconduct committed during a prior term and that his reelection operated as a condonation of the officer's previous misconduct to the extent of cutting off the right to remove him therefor. But that was because in that case, before the petition questioning the validity of the administrative decision removing petitioner could be decided, the term of office during which the alleged misconduct was committed expired. Removal cannot extend beyond the term during which the alleged misconduct was committed. If a public official is not removed before his term of office expires, he can no longer be removed if he is thereafter reelected for another term. This is the rationale for the ruling in the two Aguinaldo cases.

The case at bar is the very opposite of those cases. Here, although petitioner Reyes brought an action to question the decision in the administrative case, the temporary restraining order issued in the action he brought lapsed, with the result that the decision was served on petitioner and it thereafter became final on April 3, 1995, because petitioner failed to appeal to the Office of the President. He was thus validly removed from office and, pursuant to Section 40 (b) of the Local Government Code, he was disqualified from running for reelection.

It is noteworthy that at the time the Aguinaldo cases were decided there was no provision similar to Section 40 (b) which disqualifies any person from running for any elective position on the ground that he has been removed as a result of an administrative case. The Local Government Code of 1991 x x x could not be given retroactive effect. x x x.64

x x x x (Emphases supplied; citations omitted)


In this case, the OMB rulings dismissing petitioner for Grave Misconduct had already attained finality on May 28, 2010, which date was even prior to his first election as Punong Barangay of Brgy. Pulung Maragul in the October 2010 Barangay Elections. As above-stated, "[t]he penalty of dismissal [from service] shall carry with it that of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and the perpetual disqualification for re-employment in the government service, unless otherwise provided in the decision."65 Although the principal penalty of dismissal appears to have not been effectively implemented (since petitioner was even able to run and win for two [2] consecutive elections), the corresponding accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office had already rendered him ineligible to run for any elective local position. Bearing the same sense as its criminal law counterpart,66 the term perpetual in this administrative penalty should likewise connote a lifetime restriction and is not dependent on the term of any principal penalty. It is undisputable that this accessory penalty sprung from the same final OMB rulings, and therefore had already attached and consequently, remained effective at the time petitioner filed his CoC on October 11, 2013 and his later re-election in 2013. Therefore, petitioner could not have been validly re-elected so as to avail of the condonation doctrine, unlike in other cases where the condonation doctrine was successfully invoked67 by virtue of re-elections which overtook and thus, rendered moot and academic pending administrative cases.

IV.
With the cancellation of his CoC, petitioner is deemed to have not been a candidate in the 2013 Barangay Elections, and all his votes are to be considered stray votes.


A person whose CoC had been cancelled is deemed to have not been a candidate at all because his CoC is considered void ab initio, and thus, cannot give rise to a valid candidacy and necessarily to valid votes.68 The cancellation of the CoC essentially renders the votes cast for him or her as stray votes,69 and are not considered in determining the winner of an election.70 This would necessarily invalidate his proclamation71 and entitle the qualified candidate receiving the highest number of votes to the position.72 Apropos is the Court's ruling in Maquiling v. COMELEC,73 to wit:

As in any contest, elections are governed by rules that determine the qualifications and disqualifications of those who are allowed to participate as players. When there are participants who turn out to be ineligible, their victory is voided and the laurel is awarded to the next in rank who does not possess any of the disqualifications nor lacks any of the qualifications set in the rules to be eligible as candidates.

x x x x

x x x The second-placer in the vote count is actually the first-placer among the qualified candidates.

That the disqualified candidate has already been proclaimed and has assumed office is of no moment. The subsequent disqualification based on a substantive ground that existed prior to the filing of the certificate of candidacy voids not only the COC but also the proclamation.74 (Emphasis supplied)


In light of the cancellation of petitioner's CoC due to ineligibility existing at the time of filing, he was never a valid candidate for the position of Punong Barangay of Brgy. Pulung Maragul in the 2013 Barangay Elections, and the votes cast for him are considered stray votes. Thus, the qualified candidate for the said post who received the highest number of valid votes shall be proclaimed the winner.75

It is likewise imperative for the eligible candidate who garnered the highest number of votes to assume the office. In Svetlana P. Jalosjos v. COMELEC,76 the Court explained:

There is another more compelling reason why the eligible candidate who garnered the highest number of votes must assume the office. The ineligible candidate who was proclaimed and who already assumed office is a de facto officer by virtue of the ineligibility.

The rule on succession in Section 44 of the Local Government Code cannot apply in instances when a de facto officer is ousted from office and the de jure officer takes over. The ouster of a de facto officer cannot create a permanent vacancy as contemplated in the Local Government Code. There is no vacancy to speak of as the de jure officer, the rightful winner in the elections, has the legal right to assume the position.77


WHEREFORE, the petition is DISMISSED. The Resolutions dated April 11, 2016 and August 31, 2016 of respondent the Commission on Elections in SPA No. 13-436 (BRGY) (MP) are hereby AFFIRMED. Petitioner Joseph C. Dimapilis is ORDERED to cease and desist from discharging the functions of the Punong Barangay of Barangay Pulung Maragul, Angeles City.

SO ORDERED.

Sereno, C.J., Carpio, Velasco, Jr., Leonardo-De Castro, Peralta, Bersamin, Del Castillo, Mendoza, Reyes, Leonen, Jardeleza, Caguioa, Martires, and Tijam, JJ., concur.

Endnotes:


1Rollo, pp. 8-30.

2 Id. at 34-45. Issued by Presiding Commissioner Al A. Parre�o and Commissioners Arthur D. Lim and Sheriff M. Abas.

3 Id. at 46-54. Issued by Chairman J. Andres D. Bautista and Commissioners Christian Robert S. Lim, Al A. Parre�o, Luie Tito F. Guia, Arthur D. Lim, Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, and Sheriff M. Abas.

4 Id. at 103.

5 See Certificate of Canvass of Votes and Proclamation of Winning Candidates for Punong Barangay and Kagawad, Sangguniang Barangay; id. at 181. See also id. at 34 and 64.

6 Dated October 25, 2013. Id. at 90-102.

7 Section 40. Disqualifications. � The following persons are disqualified from running for any elective local position.

x x x x
(b) Those removed from office as a result of an administrative case[.]

8 Entitled "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991" (October 10, 1991).

[9
See rollo, p. 96.

10 Pursuant to Section 10, Rule III of Administrative Order No. (AO) 07, otherwise known as the "RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN," approved on April 10, 1990, as amended by AO 17-03, entitled "AMENDMENT OF RULE III ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER No. 07," approved on September 15, 2003, which pertinently provides:

Section 10. Penalties. � (a) For administrative charges under Executive Order No. 292 or such other executive orders, laws or rules under which the respondent is charged, the penalties provided thereat shall be imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman; (b) in administrative proceedings conducted under these Rules, the Office of the Ombudsman may impose the penalty of reprimand, suspension without pay for a minimum period of one (1) month up to a maximum period of one (1) year, demotion, dismissal from the service, or a fine equivalent to his salary for one (1) month up to one (1) year, or from Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) to twice the amount malversed, illegally taken or lost, or both, at the discretion of the Ombudsman, taking into consideration circumstances that mitigate or aggravate the liability of the officer or employee found guilty of the complaint or charge.

The penalty of dismissal from the service shall carry with it that of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and the perpetual disqualification for re-employment in the government service, unless otherwise provided in the decision.

x x x x (Emphasis supplied)

11Rollo, pp. 104-131. Approved by Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor C. Fernandez.

12 Id. at 132-156. Approved by Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark E. Jalandoni.

13 See id. at 91-92.

14 Not attached to the rollo.

15Rollo, pp. 157-179.

16 Section 78. Petition to deny due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy. - A verified petition seeking to deny due course or to cancel a certificate of candidacy may be filed by the person exclusively on the ground that any material representation contained therein as required under Section 74 hereof is false. The petition may be filed at any time not later than twenty-five days from the time of the filing of the certificate of candidacy and shall be decided, after due notice and hearing, not later than fifteen days before the election.

17Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 (December 3, 1985).

18 See rollo, pp. 160-165.

19 Approved on February 15, 1993.

20 See rollo, pp. 166-167.

21 See id. at 184-187. Penned by Judge Philbert I. Iturralde.

22 See id. at 159, 168, and 186.

23 Id. at 36.

24 Not attached to the rollo.

25 See rollo, pp. 36 and 38.

26 Id. at 34-45.

27 Id. at 45.

28 Id. at 38.

29 Id. at 40.

30 Id. at 40-41.

31 G.R. No. 94115, August 21, 1992, 212 SCRA 768.

32 G.R. Nos. 217126-27, November 10, 2015, 774 SCRA 431.

33 See rollo, pp. 42-44.

34 Id. at 44.

35 See Verified Motion for Reconsideration dated April 21, 2016; id. at 55-73.

36 Id. at 58-59.

37 Id. at 75-80. Penned by Associate Justice (now Member of the Court) Jose Catral Mendoza with Associate Justices Myrna Dimaranan Vidal and Priscilla J. Baltazar-Padilla concurring.

38 See Second Division Minute Resolution dated August 2, 2010 in G.R. No. 192325 entitled "OMB v. Josefa [Joseph] C. Dimapilis, et al.," id. at 83.

39 See id. 60-61.

40 Id. at 85-88. Penned by Presiding Judge Eda P. Dizon-Era.

41 See id. at 62-64.

42 See id. at 64-67.

43 See id. at 46-54.

44 See id. at 50-52.

45 Id. at 53.

46 Bellosillo, Marquez and Mapili, Effective Litigation & Adjudication of Election Contests, 2012 Ed., p. 47.

47 See Concurring and Dissenting Opinion of Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza in Talaga v. COMELEC, 696 Phil. 786, 890 (2012), citing Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Vol. I, 8th Ed., p. 1002.

48 Id. See also Black's Law Dictionary, 6th Ed., p. 776.

49 See Chua v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 216607, April 5, 2016.

50 See Section 52 (a), Rule 10 of the REVISED RULES ON ADMINISTRATIVE CASES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, promulgated on November 18, 2011.

51 See Jalosjos, Jr. v. COMELEC, 696 Phil. 601, 622-623 (2012).

52 Id. at 634. See also Aratea v. COMELEC, 696 Phil. 700, 738 (2012).

53 Id. at 634-635.

54 711 Phil. 414 (2013).

55 Id. at 425-426.

56 Jalosjos, Jr. v. COMELEC, supra note 51, at 632.

57 See rollo, pp. 17-20.

58Carpio Morales, supra note 32.

59 Id. at 558.

60 324 Phil. 813 (1996).

61 See discussion in Aguinaldo v. Santos, supra note 31, at 771-772.

62 See Reyes, supra note 60; at 826.

63 Id. at 827.

64 Id. at 826-827.

65 Pursuant to Section 10, Rule III of AO 07, as amended by AO 17-03.

66 See Jalosjos, supra note 54.

67 In Lingating v. COMELEC, November 13, 2002 (440 Phil. 308 [2002]); Aguinaldo v. Santos, supra note 31; and Lizares v. Hechanova (123 Phil. 916 [1966]), the public officials therein were administratively charged for the acts they committed during their previous term and were initially adjudged to be liable; however, during the pendency of their motions for reconsideration or appeal, the public officials were re-elected into the same office, which, thus, rendered moot and academic the pending charges against them. Cf Reyes v. COMELEC, March 7, 1996 (supra note 60) wherein the Court ruled that the condonation doctrine was inapplicable to Reyes, considering that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ruling dated February 6, 1995 became final before the Court could finally resolve the case. See also Silos, Miguel U., A Re-examination of the Doctrine of Condonation of Public Officers, 84, Phil. LJ 22, 69 (2009), pp.49-57.

68Aratea v. COMELEC, supra note 52, at 739.

69 See Section 9, Rule 23 of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure, as amended by Resolution No. 9523, entitled "IN THE MATTER OF THE AMENDMENT TO RULES 23, 24, AND 25 OF THE COMELEC RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR PURPOSES OF THE 13 MAY 2013 NATIONAL, LOCAL AND ARMM ELECTIONS AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS," promulgated on September 25, 2012.

70Maquiling v. COMELEC, 709 Phil. 408,447 (2013).

71 See Hayudini v. COMELEC, 733 Phil. 822, 845-846 (2014).

72Aratea v. COMELEC, supra note 52, at 740.

73 Supra note 70, at 447-448.

74 Id. at 448.

75 Consonant with the Court's ruling in Jalosjos, Jr. v. COMELEC (supra note 51, at 635) and Aratea v. COMELEC (supra note 52, at 740).

76 712 Phil. 177 (2013).

77 Id. at 190-191.



Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






April-2017 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. 199894, April 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CARLITO CLARO Y MAHINAY, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 210251, April 17, 2017 - SECRETARY OF FINANCE CESAR V. PURISIMA AND COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE KIM S. JACINTO-HENARES, Petitioners, v. PHILIPPINE TOBACCO INSTITUTE, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 197358, April 05, 2017 - BUTUAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (BDC), Petitioner, v. THE TWENTY-FIRST DIVISION OF THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS (MINDANAO STATION), MAX ARRIOLA, JR., DE ORO RESOURCES, INC. (DORI) AND LOUIE A. LIBARIOS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 186603, April 05, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DENR, REGION VI, ILOILO CITY, Petitioner, v. VALENTINA ESPINOSA, REGISTER OF DEEDS OF THE PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, LEONILA CALISTON, AND SPOUSES DIOSCORO & ESTRELLA ESCARDA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 217617, April 05, 2017 - CARMELITA T. BORLONGAN, Petitioner, v. BANCO DE ORO (FORMERLY EQUITABLE PCI BANK), Respondent.; G.R. No. 218540 - ELISEO C. BORLONGAN, JR., Petitioner, v. BDO UNIBANK, INC. (FORMERLY EQUITABLE PCI BANK), Respondent.

  • G.R. NO. 185320, April 19, 2017 - ROSENDO DE BORJA, Petitioner, v. PINALAKAS NA UGNAYAN NG MALILIIT NA MANGINGISDA NG LUZON, MINDANAO AT VISAYAS ("PUMALU-MV"), PAMBANSANG KATIPUNAN NG MGA SAMAHAN SA KANAYUNAN ("PKSK") AND TAMBUYOG DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC. ("TDCI"), Respondents; REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Oppositor.; G.R. NO. 185348 - TAMBUYOG DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC., REPRESENTED BY DINNA L. UMENGAN, Petitioner, v. ROSENDO DE BORJA, PINALAKAS NA UGNAYAN NG MALILIIT NA MANGINGISDA NG LUZON, MINDANAO AT VISAYAS ("PUMALU-MV"), REPRESENTED BY CESAR A. HAWAK, AND PAMBANSANG KATIPUNAN NG MGA SAMAHAN SA KANAYUNAN ("PKSK"), REPRESENTED BY RUPERTO B. ALEROZA, Respondents; REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Oppositor.

  • G.R. No. 187342, April 05, 2017 - ROBERT C. MARTINEZ, Petitioner, v. NOELS. BUEN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 222743, April 05, 2017 - MEDICARD PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 202573, April 19, 2017 - BANKARD, INC., Petitioner, v. LUZ P. ALARTE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 197571, April 03, 2017 - CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, Petitioner, v. CRISOSTOMO M. PLOPINIO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 194533, April 19, 2017 - PHILIPPINE STEEL COATING CORP., Petitioner, v. EDUARD QUI�ONES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 201530, April 19, 2017 - ASIATRUST DEVELOPMENT BANK, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.; G.R. Nos. 201680-81 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. ASIATRUST DEVELOPMENT BANK, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 186717, April 17, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL, Petitioner, v. JOCELYN I. BOLANTE, OWEN VINCENT D. BOLANTE, MA. CAROL D. BOLANTE, ALEJO LAMERA, CARMEN LAMERA, EDNA CONSTANTINO, ARIEL C. PANGANIBAN, KATHERINE G. BOMBEO, SAMUEL S. BOMBEO, MOLUGAN FOUNDATION, SAMUEL G. BOMBEO, JR., AND NATIONAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (FORMERLY LIVELIHOOD CORPORATION), Respondents.; G.R. No. 190357 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL, Petitioner, v. HON. WINLOVE M. DUMAYAS, PRESIDING JUDGE OF BRANCH 59, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN MAKATI CITY, JOCELYN I. BOLANTE, ARIEL C. PANGANIBAN, DONNIE RAY G. PANGANIBAN, EARL WALTER G. PANGANIBAN, DARRYL G. PANGANIBAN, GAVINA G. PANGANIBAN, JAYPEE G. PANGANIBAN, SAMUEL S. BOMBEO, KATHERINE G. BOMBEO, SAMUEL G. BOMBEO, JR., NATIONAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (FORMERLY LIVELIHOOD CORPORATION), MOLUGAN FOUNDATION, ASSEMBLY OF GRACIOUS SAMARITANS FOUNDATION, INC., ONE ACCORD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ENDEAVOR FOR SALVATION & SUCCESS THROUGH POVERTY ALLEVIATION, INC., SOCIETY'S MULTI-PURPOSE FOUNDATION, INC., ALLIANCE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT OF PANGASINAN, INC., AND STA. LUCIA EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BULACAN, INC., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208936, April 17, 2017 - HERMA SHIPYARD, INC., AND MR. HERMINIO ESGUERRA, Petitioners, v. DANILO OLIVEROS, JOJIT BESA, ARNEL SABAL, CAMILO OLIVEROS, ROBERT NARIO, FREDERICK CATIG, RICARDO ONTALAN, RUDEN DELGADO, SEGUNDO LABOSTA, EXEQUIEL OLIVERIA, OSCAR TIROL AND ROMEO TRINIDAD, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 212778, April 26, 2017 - TEDDY CASTRO AND LAURO SEBASTIAN, Petitioners, v. PABLITO V. MENDOZA, SR., ON HIS BEHALF AND AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT OF RICARDO C. SANTOS, ARLENE C. MENDOZA, MARGIE AC DE LEON, NANCY S. REYES, MARITA PAGLINAWAN, NATIVIDAD C. MUNDA, MARILOU DE GUZMAN RAMOS, LEONCIA PRINCIPIO, CECILIA DINIO, ANGEL DELA CRUZ, ZENAIDA SANTOS, LOURDES S. LUZ, MARIFE F. CRUZ, ANTONIO H. SANTOS, CONSTANCIA SANTOS, MARCELINA SP. DAMEG, PLACIDO DE LEON, LILIAN SANTOS, (COLLECTIVELY ORGANIZED AS BUSTOS PUBLIC MARKET II VENDORS AND STALL OWNERS ASSOCIATION) AND MUNICIPALITY OF BUSTOS, BULACAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 182582, April 17, 2017 - METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY, Petitioner, v. THE COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 221153, April 17, 2017 - CONCEPCION C. DAPLAS, CITY TREASURER, PASAY CITY, AND CONCURRENT OIC, REGIONAL DIRECTOR BUREAU OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE (BLGF) REGION VII, Petitioner, v. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, REPRESENTED BY TROY FRANCIS C. PIZARRO, JOSELITO F. FERNANDEZ, REYNALDO L. LAZARO, MELCHOR B. PIOL, AND ISMAEL S. LEONOR, AND THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Respondents.

  • A.C. No. 9209, April 18, 2017 - NENITA DE GUZMAN FERGUSON, Complainant, v. ATTY. SALVADOR P. RAMOS, Respondent.

  • A.M. OCA.IPI No. 10-21-SB-J, April 04, 2017 - IN RE: ALLEGED IMMORALITY AND UNEXPLAINED WEALTH OF SANDIGANBAYAN ASSOCIATE JUSTICE ROLAND B. JURADO AND CLERK OF COURT IV MONA LISA A. BUENCAMINO, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, CALOOCAN CITY

  • G.R. No. 200612, April 05, 2017 - RAFAEL C. UY (CABANGBANG STORE), Petitioner, v. ESTATE OF VIPA FERNANDEZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 189881, April 19, 2017 - BACLARAN MARKETING CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. FERNANDO C. NIEVA AND MAMERTO SIBULO, JR., Respondents.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-09-2212 (Formerly A.M. No. 09-11-446-RTC), April 18, 2017 - THE OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE JUSTINO G. AVENTURADO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 206023, April 03, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. LORENA OMAPAS SALI, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 190432, April 25, 2017 - ASIA BREWERY, INC. AND CHARLIE S. GO, Petitioners, v. EQUITABLE PCI BANK (NOW BANCO DE ORO-EPCI, INC.), Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 218040, April 17, 2017 - JUANITO VICTOR C. REMULLA, Petitioner, v. SANDIGANBAYAN (SECOND DIVISION) AND ERINEO S. MALIKSI, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 200204, April 25, 2017 - SPOUSES ELVIRA ALCANTARA AND EDWIN ALCANTARA, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES FLORANTE BELEN AND ZENAIDA ANANIAS, THE PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, STA. CRUZ, LAGUNA, AND THE CITY ASSESSOR OF SAN PABLO CITY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 216538, April 18, 2017 - DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON AUDIT, Respondent.; G.R. No. 216954, April 18, 2017 - ALFREDO C. ANTONIO, RUBEN O. FRUTO AND CESAR M. DRILON, JR., Petitioners, v. COMMISSION ON AUDIT, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 185024, April 24, 2017 - JOSELITO HERNAND M. BUSTOS, Petitioner, v. MILLIANS SHOE, INC., SPOUSES FERNANDO AND AMELIA CRUZ, AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF MARIKINA CITY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 202454, April 25, 2017 - CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 164795, April 19, 2017 - TGN REALTY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. VILLA TERESA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207246, April 18, 2017 - JOSE M. ROY III, Petitioner, v. CHAIRPERSON TERESITA HERBOSA,THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY, Respondents.; WILSON C. GAMBOA, JR., DANIEL V. CARTAGENA, JOHN WARREN P. GABINETE, ANTONIO V. PESINA, JR., MODESTO MARTIN Y. MAMON III, AND GERARDO C. EREBAREN, Petitioners-In-Intervention, PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE, INC., Respondent-In-Intervention, SHAREHOLDERS' ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent-In-Intervention.

  • G.R. No. 220598, April 18, 2017 - GLORIA MACAPAGAL�ARROYO, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE SANDIGANBAYAN, (FIRST DIVISION), Respondents.; G.R. No. 220953 - BENIGNO B. AGUAS, Petitioner, v. SANDIGANBAYAN (FIRST DIVISION), Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207776, April 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. GEORGE GACUSAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 214497, April 18, 2017 - EDUARDO QUIMVEL Y BRAGA, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 210032, April 25, 2017 - DUTCH MOVERS, INC. CESAR LEE AND YOLANDA LEE, Petitioners, v. EDILBERTO LEQUIN, CHRISTOPHER R. SALVADOR, REYNALDO L. SINGSING, AND RAFFY B. MASCARDO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 186421, April 17, 2017 - ROBERTO P. FUENTES, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 202189, April 25, 2017 - RODANTE F. GUYAMIN, LUCINIA F. GUYAMIN, AND EILEEN G. GATARIN, Petitioners, v. JACINTO G. FLORES AND MAXIMO G. FLORES, REPRESENTED BY RAMON G. FLORES, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. 17-03-33-MCTC, April 17, 2017 - RE: DROPPING FROM THE ROLLS OF ROWIE A. QUIMNO, UTILITY WORKER I, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT OF IPIL - TUNGAWAN - ROSELLER T. LIM, LPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY. R E S O L U T I O N

  • G.R. No. 205998, April 24, 2017 - WILLIAM ANGHIAN SIY, Petitioner, v. ALVIN TOMLIN, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 8658, April 24, 2017 - FRANCIS C. ARSENIO, Complainant, v. ATTY. JOHAN A. TABUZO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 207667, April 17, 2017 - SPOUSES PROCESO O. PONTILLAS, JR. AND HELEN S. PONTILLAS, Petitioners, v. CARMEN OLIVARES VDA. DE PONTILLAS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 205279, April 26, 2017 - VISAYAS GEOTHERMAL POWER COMPANY, Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217872, April 26, 2017 - ALLIANCE FOR THE FAMILY FOUNDATION, PHILIPPINES, INC. (ALFI) AND ATTY. MARIA CONCEPCION S. NOCHE, IN HER OWN BEHALF AND AS PRESIDENT OF ALFI, JOSE S. SANDEJAS, ROSIE B. LUISTRO, ELENITA S.A. SANDEJAS, EMILY R. LAWS, EILEEN Z. ARANETA, SALVACION C. MONTEIRO, MARIETTA C. GORREZ, ROLANDO M. BAUTISTA, RUBEN T. UMALI, AND MILDRED C. CASTOR, Petitioners, v. HON. JANETTE L. GARIN, SECRETARY-DESIGNATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; NICOLAS B. LUTERO III, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION; AND MARIA LOURDES C. SANTIAGO, OFFICER�-IN-CHARGE, CENTER FOR DRUG REGULATION AND RESEARCH, Respondents.; G.R. No. 221866 - MARIA CONCEPCION S. NOCHE, IN HER OWN BEHALF AND AS COUNSEL OF PETITIONERS, JOSE S. SANDEJAS, ROSIE B. LUISTRO, ELENITA S.A. SANDEJAS, EMILY R. LAWS, EILEEN Z. ARANETA, SALVACION C. MONTEIRO, MARIETTA C. GORREZ, ROLANDO M. BAUTISTA, RUBEN T. UMALI, AND MILDRED C. CASTOR, Petitioners, v. HON. JANETTE L. GARIN, SECRETARY-DESIGNATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; NICOLAS B. LUTERO III, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION; AND MARIA LOURDES C. SANTIAGO, OFFICER-�IN-CHARGE, CENTER FOR DRUG REGULATION AND RESEARCH, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 191353, April 17, 2017 - ULTRA MAR AQUA RESOURCE, INC., REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT VICTOR B. PRIETO, Petitioner, v. FERMIDA CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL MANAGER MYRNA T. RAMOS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 211287, April 17, 2017 - LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. WEST BAY COLLEGES, INC., PBR MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND BCP TRADING CO., INC., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 199669, April 25, 2017 - SOUTHERN LUZON DRUG CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF DISABLED PERSONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, AND THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 203287, April 05, 2017 - RENATO S.D. DOMINGO ON HIS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF HIS CO-HEIRS OF THE LATE SPOUSES FELICIDAD DE DOMINGO AND MACARIO C. DOMINGO, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES ENGRACIA D. SINGSON AND MANUEL F. SINGSON, Respondents.; G.R. No. 207936 - HEIRS OF SPOUSES FELICIDAD S.D. DOMINGO AND MACARIO DOMINGO NAMELY, CONSOLACION D. ROMERO, RAFAEL S.D. DOMINGO, RAMON S.D. DOMINGO, JOSEFINA D. BORJA, ROSARIO S.D. DOMINGO, AND RENATO RAMIRO S.D. DOMINGO, Petitioners, v. ENGRACIA D. SINGSON, ESTELITA I. CABALLES, AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS, SAN JUAN CITY, METRO MANILA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 178467, April 26, 2017 - SPS. CRISTINO & EDNA CARBONELL, Petitioners, v. METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 203492, April 24, 2017 - PABLO AND PABLINA MARCELO-MENDOZA, Petitioners, v. PEROXIDE PHILS., INC., HEREIN REPRESENTED BY ROBERT R. NAVERA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 189950, April 24, 2017 - BERNADETTE S. BILAG, ERLINDA BILAG-SANTILLAN, DIXON BILAG, REYNALDO B. SUELLO, HEIRS OF LOURDES S. BILAG, HEIRS OF LETICIA BILAG-HANAOKA, AND HEIRS OF NELLIE BILAG, Petitioners, v. ESTELA AY-AY, ANDRES ACOP, JR., FELICITAS AP-AP, SERGIO AP-AP, JOHN NAPOLEON A. RAMIREZ, JR., AND MA. TERESA A. RAMIREZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 227158, April 18, 2017 - JOSEPH C. DIMAPILIS, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-17-1894 [Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 11-2355-MTJ], April 04, 2017 - ROGER RAPSING, Complainant, v. JUDGE CARIDAD M. WALSE-LUTERO, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BR. 34, QUEZON CITY [NOW PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BR. 223, QUEZON CITY] AND CELESTINA D. ROTA, CLERK OF COURT III, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BR. 34, QUEZON CITY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181284, April 18, 2017 - LOLOY UNDURAN, BARANGAY CAPTAIN ROMEO PACANA, NESTOR MACAPAYAG, RUPERTO DOGIA, JIMMY TALINO, ERMELITO ANGEL, PETOY BESTO, VICTORINO ANGEL, RUEL BOLING, JERMY ANGEL, BERTING SULOD, RIO BESTO, BENDIJO SIMBALAN, AND MARK BRAZIL, Petitioners, v. RAMON ABERASTURI, CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, CESAR LOPEZ JR., DIONISIO A. LOPEZ, MERCEDES L. GASTON, AGNES H. LOPEZ, EUSEBIO S. LOPEZ, JOSE MARIA S. LOPEZ, ANTON B. ABERASTURI, MA. RAISSA A. VELEZ, ZOILO ANTONIO A. VELEZ, CRISTINA ABERASTURI, EDUARDO LOPEZ, JR., ROSARIO S. LOPEZ, JUAN S. LOPEZ, CESAR ANTHONY R. LOPEZ, VENANCIO L. GASTON, ROSEMARIE S. LOPEZ, JAY A. ASUNCION, NICOLO ABERASTURI, LISA A. ASUNCION, INEZ A. VERAY, HERNAN A. ASUNCION, ASUNCION LOPEZ, THOMAS A. VELEZ, LUIS ENRIQUE VELEZ, ANTONIO H. LOPEZ, CHARLES H. LOPEZ, ANA L. ZAYCO, PILAR L. QUIROS, CRISTINA L. PICAZO, RENATO SANTOS, GERALDINE AGUIRRE, MARIA CARMENCITA T. LOPEZ, AND AS REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY-IN-FACT RAMON ABERASTURI, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 188269, April 17, 2017 - SUMIFRU (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION (SURVIVING ENTITY IN A MERGER WITH DAVAO FRUITS CORPORATION AND OTHER COMPANIES), Petitioner, v. BERNABE BAYA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 224764, April 24, 2017 - BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ALFREDO V. MISAJON, GROUP SUPERVISOR ROLANDO M. BALBIDO, AND EXAMINER REYNANTE DP. MARTIREZ, Petitioners, v. LEPANTO CERAMICS, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 184262, April 24, 2017 - UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST), Petitioner, v. SAMAHANG MANGGAGAWA NG UST, FERNANDO PONTESOR, RODRIGO CLACER, SANTIAGO BUISA, JR., AND JIMMY NAZARETH, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 217004, April 17, 2017 - RAMON R. VILLARAMA, Petitioner, v. ATTY. CLODUALDO C. DE JESUS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181149, April 17, 2017 - CITY OF DAVAO, REPRESENTED BY RODRIGO R. DUTERTE, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CITY MAYOR, RIZALINA JUSTOL, IN HER CAPACITY AS THE CITY ACCOUNTANT, AND ATTY. WINDEL E. AVISADO, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR, Petitioner, v. ROBERT E. OLANOLAN, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-16-1876 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 14-2668-MTJ), April 26, 2017 - JOCELYN MCLAREN, JUNARIO VILLAMAYOR, RESTITUTO BARLES, JANG JONG DAE, AMANDA TALIBONG, NOMER A. TALIBONG AND EMELYN FREJOLES, Complainant, v. HONORABLE JACINTO C. GONZALES, PRESIDING JUDGE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES, BRANCH 2, OLONGAPO CITY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208215, April 19, 2017 - C.F. SHARP CREW MANAGEMENT, INC., NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, LTD. AND/OR MR. JUAN JOSE ROCHA, Petitioners, v. RHUDEL A. CASTILLO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206168, April 26, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY RAW-AN POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES DOLORES AND ABE LASMARIAS; AND COOPERATIVE BANK OF LANAO DEL NORTE, REPRESENTED BY THE BRANCH MANAGER, LAARNI ZALSOS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 191320, April 25, 2017 - JONA BUMATAY, Petitioner, v. LOLITA BUMATAY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 215595, April 26, 2017 - CAREER PHILIPPINES SHIP MANAGEMENT, INC./VERLOU R. CARMELINO, Petitioners, v. NATHANIEL M. ACUB, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 185565, April 26, 2017 - LOADSTAR SHIPPING COMPANY, INCORPORATED AND LOADSTAR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COMPANY, INCORPORATED, Petitioners, v. MALAYAN INSURANCE COMPANY, INCORPORATED, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 214925, April 26, 2017 - JOHN LABSKY P. MAXIMO AND ROBERT M. PANGANIBAN, Petitioners, v. FRANCISCO Z. VILLAPANDO, JR., Respondents.; G.R. No. 214965, April 26, 2017 - FRANCISCO Z. VILLAPANDO, JR., Petitioners, v. MAKATI CITY PROSECUTION OFFICE, JOHN LABSKY P. MAXIMO AND ROBERT M. PANGANIBAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 218666, April 26, 2017 - HEIRS OF LEONILO P. NU�EZ, SR., NAMELY, VALENTINA A. NU�EZ, FELIX A. NU�EZ, FELIXITA A. NU�EZ, LEONILO A. NU�EZ, JR., MA. ELIZA A. NU�EZ, EMMANUEL A. NU�EZ, ROSE ANNA A. NU�EZ-DE VERA, AND MA. DIVINA A. NU�EZ-SERNADILLA, REPRESENTED BY THEIR CO-HEIR AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, ROSE ANNA A. NU�EZ-DE VERA, Petitioners, v. HEIRS OF GABINO T. VILLANOZA, REPRESENTED BY BONIFACIO A. VILLANOZA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 190389, April 19, 2017 - MANGGAGAWA NG KOMUNIKASYON SA PILIPINAS, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY INCORPORATED, Respondent.; G.R. No. 190390 - MANGGAGAWA NG KOMUNIKASYON SA PILIPINAS, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY INCORPORATED, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181489, April 19, 2017 - STEVEN R. PAVLOW, Petitioner, v. CHERRY L. MENDENILLA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213486, April 26, 2017 - EDITHA M. CATOTOCAN, Petitioner, v. LOURDES SCHOOL OF QUEZON CITY, INC./LOURDES SCHOOL, INC. AND REV. FR. CESAR F. ACUIN, OFM CAP, RECTOR, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217189, April 18, 2017 - NINI A. LANTO, IN HER CAPACITY AS THEN DIRECTOR II OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH, NOW DIRECTOR IV OF THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OFFICE OF THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA), Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON AUDIT, NOW REPRESENTED BY CHAIRPERSON REYNALDO A. VILLAR, COMMISSIONER JUANITO G. ESPINO, JR., AND ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DIVINIA M. ALAGON, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 213948, April 25, 2017 - KNIGHTS OF RIZAL, Petitioner, v. DMCI HOMES, INC., DMCI PROJECT DEVELOPERS, INC., CITY OF MANILA, NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS, NATIONAL MUSEUM, AND NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.